Kashmir-bound truck set afire in Jammu, Opposition stages walk out

As the government confirmed injuries to two people in alleged incident of communal violence in Jammu’s Udhampur district where a Kashmir-bound truck was set afire, entire opposition parties staged a walk out from the Assembly over the incident on Saturday. Opposition parties, including National Conference, Congress and other independent legislators, raised hue and cry inside the Assembly and demanded government clarification. Condemning the attack, senior Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri said, “At around 11.45 p.m. yesterday a group of miscreants attacked a Kashmir bound truck at Udhampur with some combustible material. Two persons (Kashmir residents) received burn injuries and have been rushed to Jammu hospital. “Three accused have been arrested by police and a manhunt has been launched to nab the other miscreants involved in the attack,” said Mr. Veeri. The government’s reply, however, failed to pacify the Opposition, who later staged a walkout. Opposition leader Ali Muhammad Sagar of the NC accused the BJP of “intending to fan communal fire in the State.” Independent legislator Abdul Rashid said the “assembly has lost credibility” and termed members as “living corpses”. Udhampur is on the boil for the past two days after the carcasses of stray cows were recovered. All the cows had died to eating poisonous substance from different locations but the administration ruled out slaughter in its investigation report. Jammu city is also witnessing a shutdown today against the beef party organised by a legislator in Kashmir. The National Panthers Party has called for a strict beef ban in the state. Meanwhile, the government has announced to bear the medical expenses of the injured truckers. An investigation has been ordered into the incident.